Method and system for installing cable in pressurized pipelines

Abstract

A method of introducing a fiber optic conduit into a pressurized gas pipeline includes the step of introducing a translating member into the pressurized gas pipeline via an entry port in a first drilling nipple attached to the pressurized gas pipeline. Tools are deployed within a first pressure lock housing attached to the first drilling nipple by using a first manipulator located in the first air lock housing. The duct rod is advanced within pressurized gas pipeline by a driving mechanism, until a second drilling nipple is reached. The translating member is attached to a fiber optic conduit. The duct rod and fiber optic conduit are then pulled back or pulled forward through the pressurized gas pipeline by the driving mechanism.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of installing a cable into a pressurized pipeline system comprising the steps of: 
       attaching a first pressure lock housing over a first opening at a first location on the pressurized pipeline;  
       attaching a second pressure lock housing over a second opening at a second location on the pressurized pipeline, with the first and second pressure lock housings each having an interior space;  
       feeding a duct rod through a first seal and into the first opening;  
       moving the duct rod through the pipeline to the second location;  
       moving a manipulator in the interior space of the second pressure lock housing to engage the duct rod and to move the duct rod through the second opening;  
       attaching a cable or conduit to the duct rod; and  
       moving the duct rod and cable or conduit back through the pipeline to the first opening.  
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further including the steps of: 
       using a first manipulator on the first pressure lock housing to attach a rod end guide, stored in the first pressure lock housing to the end of the duct rod, within the first pressure lock housing; and  
       using a second manipulator on the second pressure lock housing to remove the rod end guide from the duct rod within the second pressure lock housing.  
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  further including the step of viewing the rod end guide through a window in the first pressure lock housing. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of deploying a first guide trough from the first pressure lock housing into the pipeline at the first opening using a manipulator and by viewing the manipulator through a window in the first pressure lock housing. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the steps of deploying a first shield into the pipeline at the first opening using the manipulator. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of storing a first guide trough in the first pressure lock housing and storing a second guide trough in the second pressure lock housing, and then deploying the first and second guide troughs into the pipeline at the first and second openings using first and second manipulators in the first and second pressure lock housings, respectively. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1  further including the step of: 
       attaching first and second drilling nipples onto a continuous section of pipeline not having valves or other obstructions;  
       attaching first and second valves onto the first and second drilling nipples, respectively;  
       attaching a pipeline drilling apparatus to the first and second valves; and  
       drilling into the pipeline, while the pipeline is under operating gas pressure, to create the first and second openings.  
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of engaging the duct rod with the manipulator while viewing the duct rod at the second opening through a window in the second pressure lock housing. 
     
     
       9. A method of installing fiber optic cable or conduit into a pressurized gas pipeline comprising the steps of: 
       attaching a first access nipple to the pressurized gas pipeline at a first location;  
       inserting a translating member at least partially into an entry port of the first access nipple;  
       making a first hole in the pressurized gas pipeline through the first access nipple;  
       sealing off the first hole;  
       installing a first pressure lock housing on the first access nipple;  
       unsealing the first hole and equalizing pressure between the first pressure lock housing and the pressurized gas pipeline;  
       attaching a translating member end guide onto the translating member using a first manipulator on the first pressure lock housing;  
       attaching a second access nipple having an exit port to the pressurized gas pipeline at a second location;  
       drilling a second hole in the pressurized gas pipeline through the second access nipple;  
       sealing off the second hole;  
       installing a second air lock housing on the second access nipple;  
       unsealing the second hole and equalizing the pressure in the second air lock housing with the pressurized gas pipeline;  
       moving the translating member within the pressurized gas pipeline to the second access nipple;  
       detaching the translating member end guide at the second location;  
       guiding an end of the translating member out of the pipeline and through the second hole; and  
       moving the end of the duct rod through the exit port.  
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the end guide is detached from the translating member by a second manipulator in the second air lock housing. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 9  further including the step of installing first and second equalizing valves between the first and second drilling nipples and the first and second pressure lock housings, respectively. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 9  further comprising the step of storing the translating member end guide in the second pressure lock housing after removing the end guide from the translating member, and sealing the first and second holes with the equalizing valves. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 9  further comprising the step of deploying a first guide trough into the pipeline using a manipulator in the first pressure lock housing, after the step of equalizing the pressure in the first pressure lock housing. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 9  further comprising the steps of attaching the translating member to a cable or conduit at either exit or entry port and pulling the translating member and conduit through the pipeline. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 9  further comprising the step of applying a wet or dry lubricant to the translating member or conduit. 
     
     
       16. A method of installing a cable or conduit into a pressurized gas pipeline comprising the steps of: 
       attaching a first access fitting having a first access port at a first location on the pressurized gas pipeline;  
       making a first hole in the pressurized gas pipeline at the first access fitting;  
       attaching a second access fitting having a second access port at a second location on the pressurized gas pipeline;  
       making a second hole in the pressurized gas pipeline at the second access fitting;  
       temporarily preventing escape of gas through the first hole and the second hole;  
       installing a first pressure lock housing on the first access fitting;  
       attaching a end guide onto an end of a translating member using a manipulator located in the first pressure lock housing;  
       pushing the translating member and end guide through the pressurized gas pipeline, from the first access fitting to the second access fitting; and  
       extracting the translating member from the pipeline at the second access fitting.  
     
     
       17. A method for installing a cable or conduit into a pressurized gas pipeline comprising the steps of: 
       attaching a first drilling nipple having a first entry port onto the pipeline;  
       temporarily sealing the entry port;  
       making a first hole in the pipeline through the first drilling nipple and sealing the first hole;  
       installing a first pressure lock housing onto the first drilling nipple;  
       unsealing the first hole and equalizing the pressure in the first pressure lock housing with the pipeline;  
       attaching a second drilling nipple having a second exit port onto the pipeline;  
       temporarily sealing the second exit port;  
       making a second hole in the pipeline through the second drilling nipple and sealing the second hole;  
       installing a second pressure lock housing onto the second drilling nipple;  
       deploying an exit guide trough into the pipeline using a manipulator in the second pressure lock housing;  
       feeding a translating member through the pipeline from the first hole to the second hole; and  
       receiving the translating member on the guide trough and directing the translating member through the exit port.  
     
     
       18. A system for installing a cable or conduit into a pressurized pipeline comprising: 
       a first access nipple attachable to the pressurized pipeline and including an entry port connecting with the interior of the pipeline;  
       a first pressure lock housing attachable to the first access nipple;  
       a first manipulator moveable within the first pressure lock housing;  
       a second access nipple attachable to the pressurized pipeline and including an exit port connecting with the interior of the gas pipeline;  
       a second pressure lock housing attachable to the second access nipple;  
       a second manipulator moveable within the second pressure lock housing;  
       a translating member or conduit adapted to enter the pressurized pipeline via the entry port and to exit the pipeline via the exit port, with the translating member or conduit engageable by the second manipulator for holding or manipulating the translating member in the pipeline or for assistance in withdrawing the translating member from the pipeline; and  
       a driver for moving the translating member or conduit through the pipeline.  
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18  with the first pressure housing containing at least one of: a deployable trough, a corner shield; an end guide, a completion plug, and tapered split plugs. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 18  further comprising a transparent window in at least one of the first and second pressure lock housing. 
     
     
       21. A system for installing cable or conduit into a pressurized gas pipeline comprising: 
       a first drilling nipple attachable to the pressurized gas pipeline and including an entry port connectable into the interior of the gas pipeline:  
       a first pressure lock housing attachable to the first drilling nipple;  
       a second drilling nipple attachable to the pressurized gas pipeline and including an exit port connectable into the interior of the gas pipeline;  
       a second air lock housing attachable to the second drilling nipple and including a manipulator for engaging a cable or conduit in the pipeline and for helping to maneuver the cable or conduit towards the exit port; and  
       a driving mechanism for moving the cable or conduit through the gas pipeline.  
     
     
       22. A method of installing a cable or conduit into a pressurized gas pipeline comprising the steps of: 
       attaching a first drilling nipple with an entry port to the pressurized gas pipeline at a first location;  
       making a first opening in the pipeline at the first location, within the first drilling nipple, without allowing gas to escape from the pipeline;  
       sealing the first opening;  
       installing a first air lock housing on the first drilling nipple;  
       unsealing the first opening and equalizing pressure between the first air lock housing and the pressurized gas pipeline;  
       attaching a second drilling nipple having an exit port to the pressurized gas pipeline at a second location;  
       sealing the exit port;  
       making a second opening in the pressurized gas pipeline through the second drilling nipple;  
       sealing the second opening;  
       installing a second pressure lock housing on the second drilling nipple;  
       unsealing the second opening and equalizing the pressure in the second pressure lock housing with the pressurized gas pipeline;  
       installing a transfer plug into the pipeline through the first opening;  
       moving the transfer plug along with differential gas pressure to the second location, with the transfer plug carrying a pull back line with it;  
       attaching the pull back line to a cable or conduit at the second location by using a manipulator at the second pressure lock housing; and  
       pulling the pull back line and the cable or conduit attached to the pull back line back through the pipeline to the first location.  
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22  further including the steps of: 
       moving a first end of the pull back line into the pipeline at the first location via an inlet in the first drilling nipple;  
       attaching the first end of the pull back line to the transfer plug using a manipulator in the first pressure lock housing, and by viewing the manipulator through a window in the pressure lock housing;  
       separating the transfer plug from the pull back line at the second location using a manipulator in the second pressure lock housing;  
       removing the transfer plug from the pipeline using a manipulator in the  
       second pressure lock housing;  
       moving the first end of the pull back line out of the pipeline via an outlet in the second drilling nipple.  
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the translating member is a conduit further comprising the steps of: 
       attaching an end plug into the conduit;  
       engaging the conduit at a second access fitting on the pipeline, using a manipulator;  
       tilting the end plug upwardly;  
       engaging the end plug with a coupler; and  
       pulling the end plug and conduit out of the second access fitting by puling on the coupler.  
     
     
       25. A method of installing a cable into a pressurized pipeline system comprising the steps of: 
       attaching a first pressure lock housing, over a first opening at a first location on the pressurized pipeline;  
       attaching a second pressure lock housing, over a second opening at a second location on the pressurized pipeline;  
       feeding a duct rod through a first seal and into the first opening;  
       moving the duct rod through the pipeline to the second location;  
       visually detecting the arrival of the duct rod at the second location;  
       engaging the duct rod with a manipulator and directing the duct rod toward a second seal at the second pressure lock housing;  
       moving the duct rod through the second seal;  
       attaching a cable or conduit to the duct rod; and  
       moving the duct rod and cable or conduit back through the pipeline to the first opening.  
     
     
       26. A method of installing a cable into a pressurized pipeline system comprising the steps of: 
       attaching a first pressure lock housing, over a first opening at a first location on the pressurized pipeline;  
       attaching a second pressure lock housing, over a second opening at a second location on the pressurized pipeline;  
       feeding a translating member through a first seal and into the first opening;  
       moving the translating member through the pipeline to the second location;  
       visually detecting the arrival of the translating member at the second location;  
       engaging the translating member with a manipulator for directing the translating member to the second opening;  
       attaching a cable or conduit to the translating member at the second location; and  
       moving the translating member with the attached cable or conduit back through the pipeline to the first opening.  
     
     
       27. A method of installing a cable into a pressurized pipeline system comprising the steps of: 
       attaching a first pressure lock housing over a first opening at a first location on the pressurized pipeline;  
       attaching a second pressure lock housing over a second opening at a second location on the pressurized pipeline;  
       feeding a duct rod through a first seal and into the first opening;  
       moving the duct rod through the pipeline to the second location;  
       attaching a cable or conduit to the duct rod using a manipulator at the second pressure lock housing; and  
       moving the duct rod and cable or conduit back through the pipeline to the first opening.